Love, love, love my Kiffer Wein. My OTTB is a MW…it fits great with a little extra flocking at the withers. I rode in a County for awhile, but I always had trouble with saddle fit and County’s. I have fallen head over heels for the Kieffer and can’t imagine riding in anything else.
One of my favorite all time saddles, and I am extremely picky, is a Kieffer Lech DL. It has thigh blocks on the outside of the flap for extra security, and rides very nicely. I have bought them for under $500 and they can be adjusted.
[QUOTE=OTTB_Lover;7968377]
Love, love, love my Kiffer Wein. My OTTB is a MW…it fits great with a little extra flocking at the withers. I rode in a County for awhile, but I always had trouble with saddle fit and County’s. I have fallen head over heels for the Kieffer and can’t imagine riding in anything else.[/QUOTE]
we have two Kieffer Weins… they are GREAT saddles.
Look on craigslist. there are several narrow saddles in the bay area for cheap. I came across a narrow ainsley a few years ago for $50 and resold it on ebay for a bit over $100 because it didn’t fit my horse. Look in sporting goods besides farm and garden. there’s fewer saddles but better deals when you find them.
I would be a bit wary looking on ebay since the majority of the time you can’t return a saddle and you don’t know exactly what is going to fit your horse. But I also loved my Kieffer (unfortunately it didn’t fit my new horse so I so it and got a Custom, but it was a nice saddle! I believe I sold it for $550, so you should definitely be able to find one in your price range, or pretty darn close!
My advice is to be patient and don’t compromise. I’ve been casually searching for a dressage saddle for 2 years and got a well used but very couchy Custom Royal Star for $800 that was on consignment with a reputable tack shop in Oklahoma. Already fits my stupidly hard to fit gelding super well and excited to have it worked on by a Custom saddle fitter. Worth the wait!
After going through 4 jumping saddles in the last 4 years I am trying to take that lesson to heart and find something that really fits my horse and myself, it takes longer with a limited budget but buying and selling “compromise” saddles really hasn’t been good for my finances either!
[QUOTE=Hunterkid;7964469]
As some of you know,I want to work towards my bronze medal. I was talking with my trainer about it and she is supportive, but says I need a better saddle. The saddle I have now fits my horse so-so, but doesn’t put me on a very good spot, it’s also super old. This means I have a crazy hard time sitting the trot.
So, to the point. What is a decent dressage saddle for $500 or less?
BTW, my mare is narrow or medium narrow…I’ve been trying to find used, but there mostly seems to be medium or wide out there…
I keep seeing kincade, are they super cheap crap, even worth looking at? Thanks![/QUOTE]
I think it will be difficult to find a dressage saddle for $500 or less unless it is used and on the older side. Not that old is bad, but you will want to be meticulous about inspecting those types of saddles for wear, tree integrity and so forth.
[QUOTE=Hunterkid;7964897]
Thanks for the links, unfortunately anything medium tree is totally out, not sure we can even swing medium narrow. I need 16.5-17 in seat which doesn’t help! We have a custom jumping saddle, but I’m just tight money wise and could never afford another custom saddle anyways.[/QUOTE]
Something to think about. I came to dressage from jumpers first and then eventing. I found that the dressage saddle size I needed (17.5") was MUCH LARGER than the saddles I had been happily jumping in. The relatively very flat jumping saddles are much more forgiving in terms of size, IMO. If you are looking for a 16.5-17" seat, I expect that you are under 5’4" and under 110 lbs. 16.5" dressage seats are usually relegated to kids.
I HIGHLY suggest trying before you buy. Find the dressage seat size that actually works for you (you can sit and post in the same saddle), and the saddle that works for your horse (is your horse more uphill or downhill)? What kind of tree works for your horse’s curvy spine or flatter spine? What brands are best over the long term (thus, lower price point for you) versus not? What do you like? Narrow or wider twist? Do you have a relatively long, normal or short femur (so flap size and whether the flap is forward or straight becomes meaningful)? Where do you like your balance to be?
I highly suggest either going to a local tack shop and trying a few different saddles so you can start to figure out what works for you and your horse and what doesn’t, or taking a few on trial for the same purpose. And borrow all of your freinds’ saddles for a ride. There are alot of saddles that will be “mediocre” for you. Alot of saddles that’ll be “OK”. But you really want to find the make and size that is “good” and ideally “best” for you and your horse if you want to progress with happiness on both of your parts.
So I ended up going with a wintec isabell. I’m going to buy a narrow and medium narrow plate for it. Lots of people at my barn have them and love them. It’s a 17in seat with cair. If it doesn’t work out, I will just resell. 
[QUOTE=Hunterkid;7976885]
So I ended up going with a wintec isabell. I’m going to buy a narrow and medium narrow plate for it. Lots of people at my barn have them and love them. It’s a 17in seat with cair. If it doesn’t work out, I will just resell. :)[/QUOTE]
Note that these saddles work best with flat backed horses due to the tree. The CAIR panels prevent flocking, and I personally would go for the flocking.
That said, hopefully this saddle will work out perfectly for you and your horse! It works for a lot of horses and I hope your horse is one of them! let us know!
Yes, she is very flat backed, which is one of the reasons her current saddle doesn’t work well!
[QUOTE=J-Lu;7976892]
Note that these saddles work best with flat backed horses due to the tree. The CAIR panels prevent flocking, and I personally would go for the flocking.
That said, hopefully this saddle will work out perfectly for you and your horse! It works for a lot of horses and I hope your horse is one of them! let us know![/QUOTE]
Actually, many of the Wintecs have the ability to customize using wool that goes in panels in the front. Not sure if this is one, but its a nice feature.
